The work environment has a large impact on priming our brains for focus and concentration, or not.

For example, as you enter a library, you are primed to be quiet, centered, and aware of your surroundings. The atmosphere is hushed. It is adorned with dimly lit green glass shade desk lamps. Smoky-colored book shelves add to the decor. Large tables are available to spread books widely across the surface. These symbols signify clarity, centered-attention, and mindfulness.

The same holds true for the office. The atmosphere, mood, and setting either instills chaos, rigidity, or harmony.

Two habits that guarantee a harmonious business is yoga and art. Yoga is commonplace at leading companies like Forbes, Apple, Google, Nike, and major sports teams. Art and the creation of art are exhibited at museums and galleries. They are also showcased at the Financial Services Roundtable in Washington, D.C., Wisdom Tree Investments, Inc., Cedar Sinai Hospitals, and other leading healthcare facilities.

Yoga is a Hindu mental, physical and spiritual discipline that includes breathing techniques, specific body postures, and concentration. Expressive Art is a practice using the five elements of self-expression. These elements include visual arts, dance/movement, music, drama/theater, and writing/poetry.

What does harmony have to do with performance, you ask.

A harmonious workplace is one in balance between chaos and rigidity. For optimal mental health seven elements must co-exist:

Sleep

Sleep is important to give the brain time to rest, unify learning and recover from the days’ experiences.

Physical Activity

Physical activity gives the body time to move, to release endorphins, and strengthens the brain neural connectivity.

Focus

Deep connections in the brain form when time is given to bring focus on goal-oriented tasks. Reaching goals and overcoming challenges strengthens self-esteem and relationships with others.

Downtime

Relaxing provides time to allow for the mind to wander and recharge. Downtime is best practiced without any specific goals and is non-focused.

Play

Play allows for creative, spontaneous novel experiences that creates new connections in the brain.

Connection

Connecting with people in person and with nature, activates and reinforces the brain’s relational circuitry.

Reflection

Time spent quietly reflecting inward, focusing on images, sensations, feelings and thoughts integrates the circuitry of the brain.

Productivity flourishes at the workplace when employees take the time to practice all seven components every day. Executives and workers alike who have healthy minds and bodies lead corporations that run efficiently, effectively, and harmoniously.

Why Yoga? Why Art?

Studies show that yoga at work improves overall health and happiness. Employees learn new skills and reach specific achievements in their day. But other benefits are valuable to the business as a whole. 

Art increases visual cues, defines a company’s culture, values, and mission. It increases the feel good hormones that energizes and personalizes a workspace. The better an employee feels at work, the more productive they become.

Creative Expression and Yoga Promotes Healthy Employees

Working in an office usually means sitting in one position for long stretches of time. Sitting at a desk, in particular, is linked to several specific health concerns, including: 

• Back pain, ranging from mild discomfort to chronic pain
• Muscle weakness
• Poor eye health
• Wrist pain or syndromes including Carpal Tunnel
• Increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and metabolic disorders

Yoga helps to relieve even severe physical pain. Crucially, it’s an effective preventative tool. It ensures that team members never have to experience work-related pain at all. 

As well as being very good for the people in question, this also adds value to the company. It means less sick days, higher productivity, and a more vibrant and energetic workforce. 

Art soothes chronic pain. Expressing the physical and emotional sensations of pain in an artistic project relaxes the mind. It externalizes the pain and eases tension to tight, sore muscles.

The Expressive Arts and Yoga Both Manage Work Fatigue

Studies show that sitting for more than 5 hours at a time harms health. This impact is like smoking 5 packs of cigarettes. Our bodies are made to be moving; we are not built to sit on chairs all day. 

Extended periods of sitting also reduce productivity — making you more to stare absently into space than work conscientiously. 

Adding yoga classes or any form of dance or movement into the working day helps to break up work hours. It adds some vital movement. This change offers a new perspective. More importantly, when people in an office begin to learn yoga from their teacher, they gain valuable tools. These tools they get are essential. These tools help them interrupt their own static hours. They will understand how to stand up. They will learn why to refocus their eyes. Every now and then, they can take a deep stretch. 

Artistic Expression and Yoga Reduces Stress

What do people complain about most often when it comes to their office life? 

Stress. It’s estimated that stress is the reason for 90% of all visits to the doctor. Persistently high levels of stress hormones in your system without relief can cause serious mental and physical health problems. 

Stress at work is down to lots of different factors; including pressure, dissatisfaction, and difficult relationships with colleagues. 

Play through art and movement using yoga techniques is incredibly effective at reducing the experience of stress. It acts directly on the nervous system, soothing body and mind. And it teaches actionable breathing and movement tools to manage stress in any moment. 

Additionally, art projects at work offer brilliant team bonding experiences. If your team is struggling to get along, conflict arises often. Difficult relationships hinder workflow. There’s nothing quite like getting them all in one room to focus on an artistic project. They can use their breath and move as a collective. 

Art and Yoga Boosts Cognition and Creativity

The focus and calm awareness cultivated during creative endeavors and yoga practices has a powerful impact on the brain. Researchers have found that yoga enhances cognitive abilities; improving concentration, memory, and creativity. 

Studies support that art stimulates cognitive abilities, motor skills, and executive functioning.

One study in particular was published in the journal Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience in 2018. It found that people who practice yoga regularly develop a different brain structure. 

The researchers used brain imaging technology. They examined the brains of 13 experienced yoga practitioners. This was in contrast with a control group of people who did not do yoga. The yoga group showed greater grey matter volume in the left hippocampus, and less activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. 

What does that mean? The yoga practitioners had better working memory and a greater ability to manage stressful situations. 

Art Induces a Positive Work Culture

Introducing creative projects and yoga helps officemates feel safe, improve their emotional state, and increase executive functioning and problem-solving skills.

By accessing a more steady state of health and brain function, people feel confident and engaged. They become empathetic and relaxed. They are also willing to accommodate the perspectives of those around them.

---

About

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT #96155) providing online therapy in California and Florida. I work with individuals and couples navigating anxiety, depression, grief and loss, trauma, and life transitions. My goal is to offer a safe, non-judgmental space where you can explore destructive beliefs, heal childhood wounds, and build a healthier relationship with yourself and others.

My integrative approach blends mindfulness, trauma-informed care, and compassionate insight to support meaningful and lasting change.

If you feel ready to begin, you’re welcome to contact me in the comments section. I respond within 48 hours.